The Portland daily press., 1887-03-05
XLIXth CONGRESS- SECOND SESSION
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, March A.
The Senate continued in session all night.
Mr.. Hale at 2.20 O'Clock this morning pre-
sented the conference report on the naval
| appropriation bill. He explained the report.
The appropriations in the bill amounted to
between eleven and twelve millions Tor what
might be called an increase OF the navy IL
c0mprehended four new vessels and S2,OOO,OOO
for floating batteries and other structures
for harbor defences. 1t also comprehended
goo for work on the vessels already
begun; a little more than 81, O,O00 for work
on the monitors, and S4,OOO,OOO Tor armor
plate and gun steel or forgings. The report
was agreed to.
At O'Clock this morning Mr.. Plumb, from
the conference committee on the District of
Columbia appropriation bill, reported that
the committee had been unable TO agree.
further conference was ordered.
The conference report on the post office
appropriation bill was also reported, the
Senate receding from the section for the
mail steamer service to South America. The
report was agreed TO.
The deficiency bill being again taken up,
an item on the motion Of Mr.. Dawes was in
serted to pay to the Choctaw Indians 81. $685.
COO the amount of the judgment Of the Su-
preme Court. Finally the bill and its
amendments were reported TO the Senate.
On demand of Mr.. Mcpherson. tie yeas
and nays were taken ON one Of the Pacific
railroad amendments, and it was agreed to.
The yeas and nays were also taken on the
At $50 o'clock Mr.. Allison presented the
conference report on the legislative, execu-
tive and judicial bill, an agreement having
been reached on all points except as TO the
clerks Of Senators. Mr.. Allison moved that
the Senate insist on the agreement, aud it
was so ordered.
The Senate at o'clock, on motion of Mr..
Hoar, went into secret session.
The doors were reOpened at 10 O'Clock.
The Senate having in the meanwhile taken
fVvO hnurQ The first hUSlOpSs done
was the presentation Of Mr.. Plummer Of the
conference report on the District Of Column
bia appropriation bill. The report was read
and agreed to
Mr.. Dawes of the conference report on the
fortifcation bill. 1t was that the conferees
had not been able to agree. Mr.. Dawes said
1t was with infinite regret that the Senate
cOnferees were obliged to make this report.
They had now conceded very much In or
der to reach a conclusion. The country
would decide where to lay the blame.
Mr.. Hawley, another of the c0nferees, said
that he desired to emphasize this most ex-
traordinary condition Of affairs. There was
no fortifcation bill for the current year nor
for next year so far as concerned the army
coast defences, and nothing whatever had
been done. There was no money TO cut the
grass along the glacis Of the forts, to buy
shingles or nails for the old sheds, not one
solitary cent The work was stopped and
all the property at these forts was left to
rack and ruin for the coming two years.
The simple statement OF facts was a most
extraordinary indictment Of somebody.
Senators Sherman and Salisbury were
then appointed a committee on the part Of
the Senate to wait on the President to In
form him that the two houses had completed
business and were ready to adjourn unless
he had something further to submit to them.
The presiding officer signed at 11.45 the
enrolled District Of Columbia appropriation
bill, and it was then rushed to the President
for his signature.
Mr.. Hale announced that the conference
committee on the deficiency bill had agreed
ON report but as the amendments were
very numerous and had not been printed or
numbered the committee was not yet able to
present its report. 1t hoped TO be able to DO
so within IL minutes.
A resolution Of thanks to the presiding Of
| ficer was unanimously adopted.
At this point of time, really about noon,
but with the hands Of the clock lingering
mysteriously about a quarter before, there
was subsistence of business and a general
lull in the Senate. The committee to walt
upon the President reported that he had no
further communication to make.
The presiding officer then announced that
| the Senate stood adjourned without day.
HOUSE.
The House continued in session all
light and at o'clock this morning the effects
of Is hours continuous work were visible in
| the appearance of the hall and In the men,
bers. The floor was lstrewn with scraps of
| paper and remnants Of documents and re-
! ports. Excepting dozen or so mem bers,
whose zeal in behalf Of their favorite meas
ures kept them on the alert to take advan-
tage OF any opportunity to secure recOgni-
| tion, the gentlemen of the House lapsed into
| indifference and stretched on sofas in the
| rear OF the hall and In the lobbies, l0unged
back in their chairs with feet elevated ON
| their desks, or, grouping together in a con-
| versati0nal mood, they endeayOred to ward
| on the WEAKNESS consequent upon their long
| vigils.
A few minutes after o'clock Mr.. Blount
| of Georgia, announced that the conference
| committee on the post office appropriation
| bill had reached an agreement by the recess
sion Of the Senate eonferees from the subsi-
| dy amendment. The report was agreed to,
thus disposing of the bill finally.
| The legislative bill arrived from the SEN
i ate about o'clock and it was Immediately
| called up by Mr.. Holman, who explained
that the point Of difference remaining be-
| tween the two Houses was an item for sec
| retarles for Senators. After heated con-
| troversy Mr.. Holman moved that the House
| recede from its disagreement TO the Senate
| rial amendment Mr.. Holman's motion re-
| ceived a majority vote but Mr.. Toulbee made
| the point Of no quorum which consumed the
| time until half past seven when his 0ppos-
| tion was withdrawn and the motion declared
| to be carried. The legislative appropriation
bill was thus passed.
Although the deficiency bill had not reach
| ed the House yet, on motion Of Mr.. Long of
| Massachusetts, the Senate amendments to
| the bill were nOn-concurred in and the
Speaker was authorized to appoint confer
/ ence committee.
| Vain efforts were made at o'clock to Sc
cure an hours recess, but the point of no
| quorum was repeatedly made by the mem
bers who wished to secure action upon bills
| In which they were interested and call of
/ the House was ordered.
At IL o'clock, on motion Of Mr. Morrison a
/ committee was appointed to inform the
President that Congress was ready to ad-
i jOurn sine die
On motion of Mr.. Reed of Maine the
thanks of the House were extended to
| Speaker Carlisle
Mr.. Forney from the committee Of con-
ference on the fortifcation bill, reported a
| continued disagreement.
volyed an expenditure of $40,000,000, while
the House bill, which the majority of the
House conferees were willing to adopt, ap-
proprated $1,000. He obtained leave to
have the two measures printed in the Record
in order that the country might judge be-
tween them. The report was accepted and
the bill thus died.
Mr.. Burnes presented the conference re-
port on the general deficiency bill and it
was agreed to. In order to enable the bill to
reach the President before noon the hands
of the clock were turned back 10 minutes.
The committee announced that the Presi-
| dent hau no further communications to
make and as the hands of the clock finally
pointed to noon the Speaker announced the
adjournment of the House.
The President and cabinet reached the
capital at - o'clock actual tine. The clocks
of the two Houses had been set back. MIR.
Hale was not able within II minutes, to
which he was limited, to have prepared and
presented the conference report on the gem
eral deficiency appropriation bill. and con-
sequently that bill failed to become law
The Notifications bill was abandoned in con-
ference, but the District of Columbia bill
was signed by the President at the last
| moment.